WO2014106412A1

WO2014106412A1 - Touch panel

Info

Publication number: WO2014106412A1
Application number: PCT/CN2013/087800
Authority: WO
Inventors: 刘振宇; 李禄兴
Original assignee: 宸鸿光电科技股份有限公司
Priority date: 2013-01-05
Filing date: 2013-11-26
Publication date: 2014-07-10
Also published as: TWI597630B; TWM478197U; TW201428578A; CN103914164A

Abstract

Disclosed is a touch panel. The touch panel comprises: a sensing layer comprising a plurality of electrodes arranged at intervals; and a protection layer, the protection layer being arranged on the sensing layer, and the refractive index of the protection layer being greater by above 0.1 than the refractive index of the sensing layer. By arranging a protection layer with a refractive index greater than a sensing layer on the sensing layer, the protection layer can reflect the most part of the external light, so that the light entering the sensing layer is reduced, thus the light reflected through the sensing layer is also less, improving the visibility problem of the sensing layer.

Description

Control panel

The present invention relates to the field of touch technologies, and in particular, to a touch panel. Background technique

With the advancement of technology, the application of touch panels is also increasing. At present, the application of touch panel mainly includes: portable electronic products, such as: tablet computers, mobile phones, digital cameras; financial and commercial purposes, such as: cash machines, remote video conferencing; public information purposes, such as: airport, station guide View, data query, etc.

A conventional touch panel includes a substrate and a sensing layer. Wherein, the sensing layer comprises a plurality of electrodes arranged at intervals, the electrodes being located on the substrate. The electrode is usually made of a transparent conductive material, and the substrate is made of glass or the like. Since the refractive index of the electrode to the light is different from the refractive index of the light to the substrate, the electrode may be visible and affect the visual appearance of the touch panel. In addition, the electrodes are disposed on the substrate, and no other components isolate the electrodes from the outside, which makes the electrodes susceptible to environmental erosion or subsequent touch panel manufacturing processes, thereby affecting the sensing function of the touch panel. Invention disclosure

An object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel. By providing a protective layer with a higher refractive index on the sensing layer, the protective layer can reflect most of the external light and enter the sensing layer due to its high refractive index. The light is reduced, and the light reflected by the sensing layer is also less, which can improve the visible problem of the sensing layer and improve the visual appearance of the touch panel. At the same time, the protective layer has a protective effect on the sensing layer.

To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a touch panel, including: a sensing layer including a plurality of spaced electrodes; and a protective layer disposed on the sensing layer and having the refractive layer of the protective layer The rate is greater than the refractive index of the sensing layer by 0.1 or more.

The touch panel provided by the present invention has a protective layer with a higher refractive index on the sensing layer, and the protective layer reflects most of the external light due to its higher refractive index, so that the light entering the sensing layer is reduced. Thereby reducing or even avoiding the problem of the visible layer of the sensing layer, improving the visual appearance of the touch panel, and at the same time, the protective layer has a protective effect on the sensing layer during the manufacturing process of the touch panel.

The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

1 shows a cross-sectional view of a touch panel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a cross-sectional view showing a touch panel in another embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a cross-sectional view showing a touch panel formed in an embodiment in combination with a display; and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the touch panel formed in another embodiment in combination with the display.

Wherein, the reference numeral

100~ substrate

102~ sensing layer

103~electrode

104, 204~ protective layer

106~ gap

201, 301~ display

203, 303 ~ cover

305~shading layer The best way to achieve the present invention

Several different embodiments are set forth below in accordance with various features of the invention. The specific elements and arrangements of the present invention are intended to be simplified, but the invention is not limited to the embodiments. For example, a description of forming a first element on a second element can include an embodiment in which the first element is in direct contact with the second element, and also includes having additional elements formed between the first element and the second element such that An embodiment in which one element is not in direct contact with the second element. Moreover, for the sake of brevity, the present invention is represented by repeated element symbols and/or letters in different examples, but does not represent a particular relationship between the various embodiments and/or structures.

In various embodiments of the present invention, a high refractive index (High Refractive Index) protective layer is disposed on the sensing layer, and the high refractive index protective layer on the one hand isolates the electrode from the outside to prevent the sensing layer from being affected. The erosion of the environment or the influence of the subsequent manufacturing process protects the sensing layer. On the other hand, it has the function of optical diffusion and reflection control, so that most of the external light is reflected by the protective layer, so that the incoming sensing is performed. The light in the layer is reduced, and the light reflected through the sensing layer is also less, thereby reducing or even avoiding the problem of the visible layer being visible.

1 shows a cross-sectional view of a touch panel in an embodiment of the invention. Referring to Figure 1, the touch panel The sensing layer 102 and the protective layer 104 are included, wherein the refractive index of the protective layer 104 is greater than the refractive index of the sensing layer 102 by 0.1 or more.

The sensing layer 102 can include a plurality of spaced apart electrodes 103. In some embodiments, the electrodes 103 may be formed using a conductive material having a better light transmittance. For example, silver nano-wire, carbon nanotube graphene, conductive polymer, metal oxide, or a combination of the foregoing. The metal oxide may be, for example, indium tin oxide (IT0), indium zinc oxide (IZ0), cadmium tin oxide (CT0), oxidized, aluminum zinc oxide (AZ0). ), indium tin zinc oxide (ITZ0), zinc oxide, cadmium oxide (CdO), hafnium oxide (Hf 0), indium gallium zinc oxide :

InGaZn0) oxidation, indium gallium zinc magnesium oxide (InGaZnMgO), indium gallium oxide, indium gallium magnesium oxide (InGaMgO), indium gallium oxide, indium gallium aluminum oxide (InGaAlO), or the foregoing combination. The method for forming the sensing layer 102 includes first forming a conductive layer, for example, including a plating method, a sputtering method, a printing method, or a combination thereof, and then patterning the conductive layer to form a plurality of electrodes spaced apart from each other. 103. The method of patterning the conductive layer may include photolithography and etching methods, such as wet etching, dry etching, and the like. In another embodiment, the method for forming the sensing layer 102 further includes: first forming a conductive layer, forming a protective layer 104 on the conductive layer, and then patterning the conductive layer to form a plurality of mutually spaced electrodes 103, for example, a pattern The method of forming a conductive layer includes: etching an etchant through the protective layer 104 by an etching process to pattern the conductive layer to form a plurality of mutually spaced electrodes 103.

The protective layer 104 includes, for example, an acrylic resin or an epoxy resin having a thickness of, for example, 50 nm to 3 um _0. In order to make the refractive index of the protective layer 104 larger than the refractive index of the sensing layer 102, the refractive index of the sensing layer may be selected. An acrylic resin or epoxy resin having a high refractive index of 102, or a high refractive index particle may be doped in an acrylic resin or an epoxy resin such that the refractive index of the protective layer 104 is higher than the refractive index of the sensing layer 102 . The high refractive index particles include titanium dioxide, zirconium dioxide, or a combination of the foregoing. In addition, the high refractive index particles are doped in the acrylic resin or the epoxy resin to form the protective layer 104, which not only makes the refractive index of the protective layer 104 higher than the refractive index of the sensing layer 102, but also makes the protective layer 104 diffuse. The function of reflection can further reduce the phenomenon visible in the sensing layer 102. In an embodiment, the refractive index of the protective layer 104 is greater than the refractive index of the sensing layer 102 by 0.1 or more. For example, when the material of the electrode 103 is a nano silver wire, the refractive index of the protective layer 104 may be between 1.6 and 2. α is preferably 1. When the material of the electrode 103 is IT0, 5。 Preferably, the refractive index of the protective layer 104 is 1. 9 to 2.3, preferably 2.0. 0至2. 3。 The refractive index of the protective layer 104 may be between 2. 0 to 2.3. 0。 The refractive index of the protective layer 104 may be between 1. 7 to 2.0. The method of forming the protective layer 104 includes, for example, spin coating, bar coating, blade coating, and roler coating, wire bar coating. Dip coating, spray coating, or other coating methods.

In addition, in an embodiment, the touch panel further includes a substrate 100, and the electrodes 103 are disposed on the substrate 100 at intervals. Since there is a gap between the electrodes 103, a part of the protective layer 104 is filled in the gaps, that is, a part of the protective layer 104 can directly contact the substrate 100 through the gap between the electrodes 103 (as shown in FIG. 1), protection The layer 104 can be in contact with the substrate 100 through a gap between the electrodes 103 (for example, by a certain density of the nanosilver material itself), and the adhesion between the electrode 103 and the substrate 110 can be improved to prevent the electrode 103 from falling off. The protective layer 104 in the example can be formed on the sensing layer 102 by the above-described coating method.

2 is another embodiment of FIG. 1 with a gap between the electrodes 103. After the protective layer 204 is disposed on the sensing layer 102, the gaps remain between the electrodes 103. That is, the protective layer 204 is not filled in the space between the electrodes 103 of the sensing layer 102, and therefore has a gap 106 between a portion of the protective layer 204 and the substrate 100. The protective layer 204 in this embodiment can be formed on the sensing layer 102 by filming and then attaching, which is relatively easy to achieve in the manufacturing process. In the present embodiment, the relative relationship between the protective layer 204, the sensing layer 102 and the substrate 100 is the same as that of the previous embodiment, and the materials and characteristics of the respective elements are also the same, and will not be further described herein.

The substrate 100 described in the above embodiments may be an organic or inorganic substrate, wherein the organic substrate is made of, for example, a plasticized material, and the inorganic substrate is made of, for example, a glass material. In an embodiment, the substrate

100 may be a polyimide substrate (PI), a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) substrate, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate, a polycarbonate (PC) substrate, or a glass substrate.

3 shows a cross-sectional view of a touch panel formed in an embodiment in combination with a display. Referring to FIG. 1 , the sensing layer 102 and the electrodes 103 therein are disposed on the substrate 100 , and the protective layer 104 is disposed on the sensing layer 102 . In addition, a cover plate 203 is disposed on the protective layer 104, and the cover plate 203 is, for example, a cover glass as a direct contact surface of an external touch object. On the other side of the substrate 200 is a display 201. The protective layer 104, the sensing layer 102 and the substrate 100 in FIG. 3 can also be replaced by the protective layer 204, the sensing layer 102 and the substrate 100 in FIG. 2, and the relative relationship is here. That is, there will be no more details.

4 is a cross-sectional view showing the touch panel formed in another embodiment in combination with the display. The difference from the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is that, in this embodiment, the sensing layer 102 and the protective layer 104 can be directly disposed on the cover 303 by using a single glass method (0GS). The cover plate 303 is disposed on the protective layer 104, and the protective layer 104 is disposed on the sensing layer 102, that is, the protective layer 104 is located between the cover plate 303 and the sensing layer 102. Display 301 is located on the other side of sensing layer 102. Compared with the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the substrate 100 can be omitted to make the touch panel thinner. In addition, the protective layer 104 also has a function of a flat layer. For example, the touch panel further includes a black mask 305. The shielding layer 305 is located in a peripheral area of the lower surface of the cover 303 for shielding the peripheral line of the touch panel. Not shown). In the non-peripheral area of the touch panel, the protective layer 104 is located between the cover 303 and the sensing layer 102. The protective layer 104 is located between the sensing layer 102 and the shielding layer 305 in the peripheral area of the touch panel. The protective layer 104 can make the sensing layer 102 relatively flat on the protective layer 104 without causing the sensing layer 102 to be uneven due to the height difference caused by the shielding layer 305. The protective layer 104 and the sensing layer 102 in FIG. 4 may also be replaced by the protective layer 204 and the sensing layer 102 in FIG. 2, and the relative relationship thereof will not be repeated here.

The touch panel provided by the embodiment of the invention covers the sensing layer by using a protective layer with a high refractive index. The protective layer has a larger refractive index than the sensing layer, and can reflect most of the external light to enter the sensing layer. The light is reduced, thereby reducing or even avoiding the problem of the visible layer of the sensing layer, improving the visual appearance of the touch panel, and simultaneously protecting the sensing layer and the flat layer. In addition, recently, due to the difficulty in obtaining the source of indium ore and the depletion of indium, the use of other materials to replace indium tin oxide (IT0) as an electrode material for touch panels has become a hot topic. Therefore, in some embodiments of the present invention, nano silver wire is used as the electrode material of the touch panel. Since the nano silver wire has a high refractive index, the electrode formed by the nano silver wire needs a higher refractive index than the ordinary electrode. The protective layer, therefore, in some embodiments of the present invention, the sensing layer is covered by a protective layer having a high refractive index, which reduces or even avoids the visibleness of the sensing layer, and the visual appearance of the touch panel is particularly effective.

There are a variety of other embodiments of the present invention, and various modifications and changes can be made thereto in accordance with the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Industrial applicability

The invention covers the sensing layer by using a protective layer with a high refractive index. The protective layer has a larger refractive index than the sensing layer, and can reflect most of the external light, so that the light entering the sensing layer is reduced, thereby reducing or even avoiding the feeling. The problem of the visible layer is to improve the visual appearance of the touch panel, and the protective layer has both the protection layer and the flat layer.

Claims

Claim

A touch panel, comprising:

a sensing layer comprising a plurality of spaced electrodes;

A protective layer is disposed on the sensing layer, and a refractive index of the protective layer is greater than a refractive index of the sensing layer by 0.1 or more.

The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the materials of the electrodes comprise nano-silver wires, and the protective layer has a refractive index of 1.6 to 2.0.

The touch panel according to claim 2, wherein the protective layer has a refractive index of 1.8.

The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the materials of the electrodes comprise indium tin oxide, and the protective layer has a refractive index of 1.9 to 2.3.

The touch panel according to claim 4, wherein the protective layer has a refractive index of 2.0.

The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the material of the electrodes comprises aluminum zinc oxide, and the protective layer has a refractive index of 2.0 to 2.3.

The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the material of the electrodes comprises a conductive polymer, and the protective layer has a refractive index of 1.7 to 2.0.

The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer comprises an acrylic resin or an epoxy resin.

The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer comprises an acrylic resin or an epoxy resin doped with high refractive index particles.

The touch panel according to claim 9, wherein the high refractive index particles comprise titanium dioxide, zirconium dioxide, or a combination thereof.

The touch panel of claim 1 , wherein a gap is formed between the electrodes, and at least a portion of the protective layer is filled in the gaps.

The touch panel of claim 1 , wherein a gap is formed between the electrodes, and after the protective layer is disposed on the sensing layer, the gaps are still present between the electrodes.

The touch panel of claim 11 or 12, further comprising: a substrate, wherein the electrodes are disposed on the substrate.

The touch panel of claim 11 or 12, further comprising: a substrate disposed on the protective layer.

The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the electrode comprises nano silver wire,